Biography of Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (May Allah be pleased with him)

Table of Contents

One of the Ten Promised Paradise | The Trusted Arbitrator of the Ummah

I. Introduction

Full Name: Abdur Rahman ibn Awf ibn Abd Awf ibn Abd al-Harith ibn Zuhrah ibn Kilab al-Qurashi al-Zuhri
Kunya: Abu Muhammad
Titles: One of the Ashara Mubashshara (Ten Promised Paradise), One of the Six Members of the Shura Council
Dates: Born approximately 580 CE (10 years after the Year of the Elephant); died 31 AH (652 CE) in Medina
Significant Locations: Born in Mecca, migrated to Abyssinia and then Medina, resided in Medina until his death
Lineage: From the Banu Zuhrah clan of the Quraysh tribe; his mother was al-Shifa bint Awf ibn Abd al-Harith, also from Banu Zuhrah

II. Early Life and Upbringing

Born into the Banu Zuhrah clan of Quraysh, approximately ten years after the Year of the Elephant
His original name in the pre-Islamic period was Abd Amr or Abd al-Ka’bah; the Prophet (peace be upon him) renamed him Abdur Rahman upon his acceptance of Islam
He was known for his integrity and business acumen even before Islam
He was among those who rejected idol worship and never prostrated to idols

III. Journey to Islam

Abdur Rahman was among the first eight people to embrace Islam, accepting the faith before the Prophet entered Dar al-Arqam
He embraced Islam through the invitation of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him)
He migrated twice: first to Abyssinia and then to Medina
Upon arriving in Medina, the Prophet (peace be upon him) established brotherhood between him and Sa’d ibn al-Rabi al-Ansari

IV. Character and Virtues

1. Extraordinary Generosity:

He donated half of his wealth during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
He later donated forty thousand dinars, equipped five hundred horses and five hundred camels for jihad
He freed thirty slaves in a single day
At his death, he bequeathed four hundred dinars to every surviving participant of Badr, and substantial amounts to the Mothers of the Believers

2. Trustworthiness and Arbitration:

Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab appointed him to lead the Shura council to select the next caliph, demonstrating his unparalleled trustworthiness
He was described as “al-Adl al-Rida” (the Just, the Approved) by Umar

3. Devotion in Worship:

He would pray a long prayer before Dhuhr; when the adhan was called, he would gather his clothes and go out

4. Courage in Battle:

He sustained twenty-one wounds at the Battle of Uhud and walked with a limp thereafter

V. Contributions to Islam

Military Service:

Participated in the Battle of Badr and all subsequent battles alongside the Prophet
The Prophet sent him to Dawmat al-Jandal and permitted him to marry the daughter of their king, al-Asbagh ibn Tha’labah al-Kalbi; he married Tamadir bint al-Asbagh, who bore him Abu Salamah

Unique Honor:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed behind him during a journey, a distinction not granted to anyone else. The Prophet said: “No prophet has ever died until he prays behind a righteous man of his ummah.”

Administrative Service:

Caliph Umar appointed him to lead the Hajj in his absence
He was part of the six-member Shura council entrusted with selecting the caliph after Umar

Scholarship:

He was among those who issued legal verdicts (fatwa) during the lifetime of the Prophet

VI. A Brief Story: The Blessed Trade of a Muhajir

When Abdur Rahman migrated to Medina, he arrived with nothing. The Prophet (peace be upon him) established brotherhood between him and Sa’d ibn al-Rabi, a wealthy Ansari. Sa’d offered to divide his wealth in half and even offered to divorce one of his two wives for Abdur Rahman to marry.

Abdur Rahman declined all of this, saying: “May Allah bless you in your wealth and family. Just show me the way to the market.” He went to the market and began trading. He bought and sold, dealing in cheese and butter. Before long, he returned with profit.

Not long after, the Prophet (peace be upon him) noticed traces of saffron on him and asked about it. Abdur Rahman replied that he had married a woman from the Ansar. The Prophet asked what dowry he had given, and he replied: “A piece of gold equal to a date-stone.” The Prophet said: “Give a wedding feast, even if with one sheep.”

This incident exemplifies the Prophet’s praise for self-sufficiency through lawful trade and Abdur Rahman’s extraordinary success in business, which Allah blessed so that he could later give away vast sums in charity.

VII. Hadith Narrations

Narrated approximately 65 hadiths recorded in the Musnad of Baqi
He has two hadiths in the Sahihayn (Bukhari and Muslim)
He narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) and from Umar ibn al-Khattab
Those who narrated from him include Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Anas ibn Malik, Jabir, and his own sons: Ibrahim, Humayd, Abu Salamah, Amr, and Mus’ab

Notable Narration:
He narrated the hadith about the prostration of forgetfulness (sujud al-sahw) in prayer, which Umar accepted from him, saying: “You are, in our eyes, the Just and the Approved.”

VIII. Challenges and Persecutions

Endured persecution in Mecca as one of the early Muslims
Migrated twice, leaving behind his wealth and home
Sustained severe injuries at the Battle of Uhud, including wounds to his face and leg that left him with a permanent limp
Experienced the loss of his brother during the early persecution period

IX. Legacy and Impact

The Shura Council:

His most significant historical role was as the arbitrator of the Shura council. Umar entrusted the selection of the next caliph to six men, with Abdur Rahman given the responsibility to consult and decide. He ultimately gave the pledge of allegiance to Uthman ibn Affan

Wealth in Service of Islam:

He demonstrated that wealth, when used righteously, can be a powerful tool for Islam
His charitable endowments and bequests set a precedent for Islamic philanthropy
At his death, he left a vast estate: one thousand camels, one hundred horses, three thousand sheep, and substantial gold

Final Words from Ali:
When Abdur Rahman died, Ali ibn Abi Talib said: “Go, O Ibn Awf, for you have attained its purity and preceded its impurity.”

X. Conclusion

Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) exemplified the complete Muslim: a successful merchant who used his wealth for Allah’s cause, a brave warrior who sacrificed his body in battle, a trusted leader whose judgment was accepted by all, and a devoted worshipper who never let worldly success distract him from his Lord. From declining half of his Ansari brother’s wealth to becoming one of the wealthiest men in Medina, only to give it all away in charity, his life demonstrates that true wealth is not in accumulation but in what is spent for Allah. He was among the ten promised Paradise, and his legacy continues to inspire Muslims to balance worldly excellence with spiritual devotion.

References

Primary Hadith Collections:
- Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Manaqib al-Ansar, Hadith 3781; Book of Prayer)
- Sahih Muslim (Book of Prayer, Hadith 274; Book of Marriage, Hadith 1427)
- Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Book of Prayer, Hadith 398)
- Musnad Ahmad (Volume 1, pages 190-195)
Classical Biographical Sources:
- Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah – Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (Volume 6, pages 543-547)
- Siyar A’lam al-Nubala – Al-Dhahabi (Volume 1, pages 68-90)
- Usd al-Ghabah fi Ma’rifat al-Sahabah – Ibn al-Athir (Volume 3, pages 313-380)
- Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d – Muhammad ibn Sa’d (Volume 2, page 340; Volume 3, pages 124-137)
- Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah – Ibn Kathir (Volume 7, pages 150-155)
Specialized Works on Companions:
- Al-Isti’ab fi Ma’rifat al-Ashab – Ibn Abd al-Barr (Volume 2, pages 393-394)
- Ma’rifat al-Sahabah – Abu Nu’aym al-Isfahani (Hadith 456)
- Tahdhib al-Kamal – Al-Mizzi (Hadith 3923)
Contemporary Scholarly References:
- Hayat al-Sahabah – Shaykh Muhammad Yusuf al-Kandahlawi
- The biographies contained within the above classical works have been cross-referenced for accuracy